Gaston Day School Recruitment & Admissions

Dear Gaston Day School Coaches, Parents, Alumni & Friends,

Gaston Day School recruits all students according to the highest ethical standards. In particular, we comply fully with all rules and regulations of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) involving the admission of student-athletes. Consistent with NCISAA policy, the standard for recruitment of students to Gaston Day School requires that any family or youngster expressing interest first be channeled through the Admissions Office. Please instruct any interested people to contact the Admissions Office. Only after that contact has been established is it appropriate for conversations to be held with coaches.

NCISAA policy states:

"A member school shall not actively recruit athletes to play sports at their schools. In order to enforce this rule, the following principles will be applied ... Coaches, teachers, administrators, other school employees or persons known to be assocaited with the school's athletic booster club may not initiate contact with a student-athlete to encourage him or her to attend the school. Once a parent or student has made initial contact with the school's admission office, then coaches or other representatives of the school may approach the student about the school's programs."

Gaston Day School offers no athletic scholarships. Families may receive need-based financial aid or academic, merit-based scholarships.

Consistent with the school’s child-centered mission, if an evaluation of the whole student suggests repeating a grade is in the best long-term developmental interest of the child, then it may be considered.

All potential applicants to Gaston Day School receive equitable consideration.      

Gaston Day School requires of every applicant:

1) a completed application accompanied by a $40 application fee;

2) a copy of a transcript from the student’s current school;

3) two completed recommendations, both forms being found in the Gaston Day Admission Guide Book or on the Gaston Day web site at http://www.gastonday.org/admissions/process.asp. One recommendation must come from the most recent math teacher and one from the most recent English teacher; and

4) academic screening conducted by an outside education evaluation firm. In the event that an applicant has scored above 1050 on the SAT or PSAT, Head of Upper & Middle Schools Mr. Tim Tinnesz may choose to waive the screening requirement. Unless, however, a student scores 1050 or above, all incoming students must be screened or provide other recently completed, nationally-normed, standardized academic testing.   Since schools vary and report cards do not give us a complete picture of a student’s abilities, the standardized testing helps us see a student’s range of strengths and weaknesses. We can use the test results to properly place the student once he is here.